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MenaRD Secures Back-to-Back Street Fighter 6 Title at EVO 2026

6/29/2026, 12:13:08 PM

EVO 2026 Street Fighter 6 Grand Finals: Core Outcome

MenaRD defeated Shigematsu in the Street Fighter 6 Grand Finals at the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2026, winning the reset match 3-0. The victory makes MenaRD the first player to claim consecutive EVO Street Fighter 6 championships, having also won the 2025 title.

Evolution Championship Series 2026: Context

The annual fighting-game tournament took place in Las Vegas over the weekend, featuring twelve titles in its main lineup. Street Fighter 6 was highlighted as the marquee fighting game, drawing the largest audience among the featured titles.

Primary Competitors

MenaRD – Entered the top 8 as a projected champion, advanced directly to the Grand Finals after defeating Shigematsu in the Winners bracket, and previously secured the 2025 Street Fighter 6 crown by beating Kakeru’s JP.

Shigematsu – Reached the Grand Finals from the Losers bracket after an earlier loss to MenaRD in the Winners semifinals; employed Blanka throughout the final series.

Kilzyou – Faced MenaRD in the Winners Final, losing 3-0 while MenaRD played as Blanka.

Match Timeline

1. Winners Semifinals – MenaRD defeats Shigematsu.

2. Winners Final – MenaRD (Blanka) beats Kilzyou 3-0.

3. Losers Bracket – Shigematsu advances, securing a rematch slot.

4. Grand Finals – Set 1 – MenaRD starts as Bison, dominates early; Shigematsu wins the third game to force a Grand Finals Reset.

5. Grand Finals Reset – MenaRD switches to Blanka; both players use Blanka, resulting in a 3-0 reset sweep for MenaRD.

Quantitative Summary

Games featured at EVO 2026: 12.

MenaRD’s Grand Finals record: 3-0 in the reset, 3-0 in Winners Final.

Back-to-back titles: First repeat champion for Street Fighter 6 at EVO.

Character usage: Rare dual-Blanka final; Blanka previously associated primarily with MenaRD.

Impact of the Blanka vs Blanka Reset

The final’s exclusive use of Blanka by both competitors is unprecedented in EVO history, underscoring a strategic shift toward the character’s viability at the highest level of play. MenaRD’s ability to adapt from Bison to Blanka mid-match demonstrates flexible character mastery, a factor cited by observers as contributing to his historic repeat championship. The outcome also highlights the depth of the competitive meta in Street Fighter 6, where character selection can pivot dramatically within a single series.

Conflicting Reports & Gaps

The source material does not provide official statements from EVO organizers or the players, nor does it include independent verification of match statistics beyond the narrative description. Consequently, details such as prize amounts, audience size, and broader community reactions remain unreported.